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Bar Chat

04/28/2025

NFL Draft, NBA, MLB....

Add-on posted early Tues. a.m.

NBA Playoffs

--After I posted Sunday, Boston took a 3-1 series lead over Orlando, 107-98, and Indiana is now up 3-1 on Milwaukee, the Pacers winning on the road, 129-103, as Bucks fans are distraught because Damian Lillard – just days after a miraculous recovery from blood clots – crumpled to the floor in the first quarter, grabbing his left leg, and didn’t return, Lillard suffering an apparent Achilles tendon injury.

But NBA management wasn’t happy to see Minnesota take out the Lakers, 116-113, to go up 3-1 in their series, as the Lakers are guaranteed ratings.

Minnesota, though, has Anthony Edwards, who was spectacular with 43 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

LeBron had 27 and Luka Doncic 38 points, but it wasn’t enough, as former Knick Julius Randle had 25 for the T’Wolves.

--But a lot of the talk in the NBA on Monday morning was about the no-call on Detroit’s Tim Hardaway, who drew contact from New York’s Josh Hart as he went up for the potential winning shot with 0.3 seconds remaining in Game 4.  The 3-point attempt misfired, and the sold-out crowd awaited a foul call...that never came.

I watched the whole game, and I chose to focus on the terrific play, for a second straight game, by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns down the stretch for the Knickerbockers, who escaped with the 94-93 victory and a 3-1 lead. [Brunson, the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year,  had 15 points in 10 fourth-quarter minutes after exiting earlier, apparently reinjuring his ankle.]

But I saw all the replays of the Hart play and it wasn’t anything we hadn’t seen all game!  This was a hard-fought, physical contest, just like Game 3 last Thursday night in Detroit, and the referees largely let them play, which I didn’t agree with.  The final no-call, however, was consistent with everything that had transpired before.

But believe me, I understand Coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the team and its fans being super ticked off.

Following the contest, crew chief David Guthrie told pool reporters that officials should have called a foul on Hart.

“During the live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play,” Guthrie acknowledged.  “After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called.”

Hart himself acknowledged bumping Hardaway on the play.

“Did I make contact with him?  Yeah, I made contract with him,” Hart said.  “Was it legal?  I don’t know.  We’ll see in the Last Two Minute Report.”  [That’s normally released the next day by the NBA, but in this case, the league had Guthrie explain right after.]

--Monday night, the Cavs completed a 4-0 sweep of the Heat in Miami, a 138-83 annihilation.  It was 72-33 at the half.  I assume everyone went home at that point (not watching a lick of it myself), bitter over having spent $100s for a ticket.

The Warriors then went up 3-1 on the Rockets, as Jimmy Butler heroically returned from his pelvic injury to score 27 points in 40 minutes, including 12 of 12 from the free throw line, five of them in the final minute of a 109-106 triumph.

--Knicks great Dick Barnett passed away Sunday, he was 88. Barnett played 15 seasons in the NBA, 1960-74, with Syracuse, the Lakers, and the Knicks, where he really made his name, a key cog of the 1969-70 championship season, and picking up a second ring in 1972-73 while a reserve with the Knickerbockers.  For his career, the lefty-shooting guard averaged 15.8 points per game and was enshrined in the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024.

But growing up as a kid in those days, when you hit the playground, everyone tried to shoot the way Barnett did, with his “Fall Back Baby” jumper, and you couldn’t.  There was only one Dick Barnett.

And going back to the titanic Game 7 of the 1970 Finals against the Lakers, while a limping Willis Reed inspired the team, and Walt Frazier played the game of his life, Barnett scored 21 points and took on the responsibility of guarding Jerry West for most of that series.

Off the court, and in retirement, Barnett, an indifferent student at first, realized after he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in his second season as a Knick that he needed a backup plan, and he would go on to get his master’s in public administration from NYU and his doctorate in education and communications from Fordham.

Barnett would teach classes at St. John’s and authored some 20 books.

“Dreams really do come true,” he told the MSG Network in 2020.  “Life is a continuum.  Just because I achieved this goal doesn’t mean I’m through.  There are other goals.

“So what now, brother?  There’s always something else ahead.”

New York sports fans of a certain era can only smile at the memories Dick Barnett provided us.  RIP.

MLB

--After posting Sunday, the Dodgers (18-10) beat the Pirates 9-2, but Tyler Glasnow went only one inning, leaving with right shoulder discomfort.  Uh-oh. Shohei Ohtani had another couple hits, so he’s turning it around.  [Glasnow then joined Blake Snell on the IL, though his shoulder is “structurally sound.”]

The Reds (15-13) whipped the Rockies again, 8-1, as Colorado fell to 4-23.  Eegads.

And the Yankees (17-11) completed the sweep of their doubleheader with the Blue Jays, 5-1, Aaron Judge, batting .406, hit home run No. 8.  Luke Weaver, in a non-save situation, closed it out for the Yanks, a harbinger of things to come, the talented Weaver at least temporarily taking over the closer role from Devin Williams.

--But Monday night, the Yanks fell to the Orioles in Baltimore, 4-3.

The Mets (20-9), on the other hand, took their frustrations from Sunday’s debacle and destroyed the Nationals 19-5, as Brandon Nimmo, flailing at the plate essentially all season, and without an extra-base hit in his last 12 games, broke out in a gigantic way, two home runs, a double, four hits, and 9 RBIs, tying a franchise record.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, the Rockies are now 4-24, falling to the Braves 6-3.  This is getting serious...early....

Stanley Cup Playoffs

--Washington took a 3-1 lead over Montreal Sunday, 5-2.   Oh, Caa-na-daaa!

NFL

--The Draft is over....no more talk of Shedeur...just bring on training camp and then the real season.

Then again, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reported that Sanders would purposely do poorly in interviews with certain teams that he wasn’t as interested in being drafted to.

“At some of those [combine] meetings with certain teams that maybe Shedeur Sanders didn’t really want to go to... I was told that he more or less sandbagged in those interviews,” Jones said.

--Fans of the Washington Commanders can take heart that they have a deal between the team and D.C. to build a new, roofed, 65,000-seat stadium, as announced Monday morning.

The development, anchored by the stadium, will be funded primarily by the Commanders, who will put up $2.7 billion, while D.C. taxpayers would pay $500 million.

But total taxpayer costs are expected to top $1 billion when parking facilities, recreation improvements and other water and electric infrastructure are included – a price tag likely to spur heated debate on the D.C. Council and among D.C. residents about how public money is used.

The crumbling RFK Stadium site on the banks of the Anacostia River will be the new home for the team surrounded by retail, housing and park space – a generational development project approved by Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and Commanders owner Josh Harris.

The D.C. council must approve the deal, and it may take weeks to obtain same, but approval will come, the goal to have the stadium open for the 2030 season.

Mayor Bowser has spent a decade pursuing the RFK Stadium site for redevelopment.

Golf Balls

--Because of a rain delay, the Zurich Classic in New Orleans, the only team event on tour, wrapped up past my post time and Andrew Novak, 30, and Ben Griffin, 28, picked up the first wins of their career, opening up a lot of opportunities.

Heck, Novak has four top 3s this year, including in his last three events, T3, P2, 1. The dude (no relation, by the way, for those of you who know my email address), is a prime contender for a spot on the Ryder Cup team.

Defending champs Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry faltered Sunday and finished T12.  Rory now has his eyes set on the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Charlotte, NC, where he has won four times.  The crowds following him will be ginormous.

Kentucky Derby

--Next Saturday should be fun. 

They drew the post positions for the 20-horse field and Bob Baffert’s two entries, Citizen Bull (20-1 a/o Monday) and Rodriguez (12-1) drew the No. 1 and 4 posts, respectively.

Favorite Journalism (3-1) will go off at No. 8.  But the only other two horses less than 12-1, Sandman (6-1) and Sovereignty (5-1) drew the very tough No. 17 and 18 posts.  No horse has ever won from the 17. 

But...I would expect some horses to scratch, at least one or two, and that would move Sandman and Sovereignty over a few slots.

Next Bar Chat, Sunday p.m.

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[Posted early Sun. p.m.]

Brief Add-on up top by noon, Tuesday.

Horse Racing Quiz: With the Kentucky Derby next week, how many of the 13 Triple Crown winners can you name.  Answer below.

NFL Draft

The first round of the NFL Draft Thursday night provided some surprises, including one big one that even lingered through Friday’s second and third rounds, that being the absence of Shedeur Sanders, who was a lock to go somewhere in the first, until he kept sliding and sliding and sliding....

Five quarterbacks were selected ahead of him in the first three rounds.  Cam Ward, the non-surprising No. 1 overall selection of the Titans; Jaxson Dart at No. 25 by the Giants (more on this later); Tyler Shough in the second round by the Saints; and Jalen Milroe (Seahawks) and Dillon Gabriel (Browns) in the third round.

The polarizing Sanders then didn’t go until Saturday, the fifth round, No. 144 overall, selected by Cleveland.

That’s No. 144, when more than a few folks had him going in the top three! At least as of a few weeks ago, before the Great Slide began. It is clear that Sanders is a terrific athlete, though with shortcomings at the position, but do you want to deal with the distraction of Deion when you take Shedeur?

At the same time, the Browns took him after obtaining/signing veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, and drafting Gabriel in the third round, plus rehabbing Deshaun Watson is in the background, though probably not until 2026, after his second Achilles tendon injury.

But Shedeur now has a shot.  That’s all one can ask for.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars traded with the Browns to rise from No. 5 to No. 2 and selected Heisman-winning WR/CB Travis Hunter. The Jags fully plan to use Hunter on both sides of the ball. The Jaguars gave up a ton – including a 2026 first-round pick – but they came up with the best player in the draft, according to many.

Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter went to the Giants, as expected, with the third overall selection.

Will Campbell (LSU/OT) was tabbed by New England, pleasing QB Drake Maye greatly.

And Mason Graham (Michigan/DT) went fifth to the Browns.

The Raiders then took Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, and Las Vegas has a new star.  This kid is the real deal.

Locally, the Jets then selected OT Armand Membou (Missouri) at No. 7, a safe pick and a good one.

But back to the Giants, that they could get Dart at No. 25 was a stroke of brilliance, following a trade where they sent their No. 34, one third-round and a third-rounder next year to the Texans for the No. 25 pick. 

Dart’s strong, can run, has a good enough arm, and is a leader, and while some complain, ‘Why take him if he’s going to be the third-string quarterback behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston?’ I say it’s the perfect situation.  Dart will learn under Wilson and these things have a way of working themselves out.

Dart will be the starter in 2026, if not sooner.

Overall, being parochial, my Jets ended up with a solid tight end prospect in Mason Taylor from LSU in the second round, and picked up a potential weapon opposite Garrett Wilson in receiver Arian Smith from Georgia with one of their fourth-round picks.  The other selections, who the heck knows...and that’s the case with every team.  You don’t know how these guys are going to do.

But the Jets only have Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor at quarterback, so they signed Missouri QB Brady Cook as an undrafted free agent; a reason why some Jets fans asked, ‘Why not take Shedeur?’

Back to the Giants, their fans should be thrilled they nabbed running back Cam Skattebo (Arizona State) in the fourth round.  This kid is the ultimate gamer and, like Dart, will be an instant crowd favorite.  [He’s also a terrific receiver...think lots of screen passes.]

--When all was said and done, yes, the 2025 Quarterback Class, at least on paper, was a weak one, with just Ward and Dart going in the first round.

Compare that to 2024....

1. Caleb Williams
2. Jayden Daniels
3. Drake Maye
8. Michael Penix
10. JJ McCarthy
12. Bo Nix

Four of these are already considered true franchise QBs, and maybe Penix is the fifth.  The Vikings wait to see if McCarthy will be healthy enough to prove himself this coming season.

--Among the other selections in the draft, overall, we had a real feel-good selection, receiver Jack Bech being selected in Round 2, No. 59 overall by the Raiders.

Bech’s brother, Tiger, a player at Princeton, was unexpectedly killed during the infamous terrorist truck attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans prior to the Sugar Bowl.

Jack Bech, who attended TCU, has tattoos honoring his brother, and says the Raiders will also be drafting him in spirit.

“You know, whenever you know, late night, early mornings, he’s going to keep bringing me further and further and further.  And I dedicate my whole career to him,” Jack said after being selected.

--And then we had a draft night tragedy. The Steelers selected DT lineman Derrick Harmon (Oregon) at No. 21 of the first round but his mother, Tiffany Saine, who raised Derrick in Detroit, died later that evening.

Harmon’s voice cracked on a conference call as he shared the news that his mother was on life support at a local Detroit hospital.

“After I get off the phone with you,” Harmon told reporters, “I’m going to head straight to the hospital and tell her that her son got drafted.”

Harmon got the opportunity to share the good news, and it would be their final conversation.  Shortly after, she died, the Steelers confirmed Friday in a statement.  Just heartbreaking.  Harmon owes everything to her.

--The Bears got a steal with Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh round. QB Will Howard in the sixth round for the Steelers is a sleeper pick.  Howard will get a shot.

--Hall of Fame defensive tackle Steve “Mongo” McMichael, a stalwart of the dominant Chicago Bears famed “46 defense” of the 1980s, died at age 67, the NFL announced Wednesday.

McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in 2021.

In a career from 1980-94, his first season with New England, his last with Green Bay, in between it was 13 seasons in Chicago, playing in a team-record 191 consecutive games, 92.5 of his 95 career sacks, and a Super Bowl ring (1985).  He was twice selected first-team All-Pro (twice second-team).

“It’s a cruel irony that the Bears’ Ironman succumbed to this dreaded disease,” Bears chairman George H. McCaskey said in a statement.  “Yet Steve showed us throughout his struggle that his real strength was internal, and he demonstrated on a daily basis his class, his dignity and his humanity.  He is at peace now.  We offer our condolences to Misty, Macy, the rest of Steve’s family, his teammates, and countless friends and fans of a great Bear.”

McMichael was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3, 2024, his bust unveiled inside of his home in Homer Glen, Illinois, surrounded by former teammates Richard Dent, Ron Rivera, Mike Singletary, Jimbo Covert, Gary Fencik, Jim Osborne and Marcus Keyes.

McMichael had signed a “do not resuscitate” form in 2023 before his condition began to worsen, but upon learning he was one of the senior semifinalists, he informed his wife that he wanted to rip up the DNR as he awaited word on his selection.

MLB

--The Mets traveled down to Washington for a 4-game series with the Nationals, hot off a 7-game win streak, sweeping the Cardinals and Phillies at home, and New York was stymied by Jake Irvin Friday night, Irvin allowing one run in 7 1/3, the Nationals up 3-1 in the top of the eighth.

But the Mets got a bases-loaded, bloop triple off the bat of Mark Vientos, Washington outfielder Dylan Crews taking an unnecessary gamble on the ball that got behind him and bounded down the right-field line.

Mets reliever Reid Garrett pitched a scoreless eighth, we then proceed to the bottom of ninth, Ryne Stanek looking to close it, but right fielder Juan Soto could not hold on while attempting a running catch over his head as it popped out of his glove at the fence, leading to a triple from Crews, who then scored the game-winner on a single.

So a crappy 5-4 loss.  Soto needed to make the catch.

The Mets also got robbed early when Jesse Winker lined into a triple play, but the ball was trapped by the Washington first baseman.  With runners on first and second, no one out, it should have been first and third, one out.  But the play isn’t reviewable!  That is bound to change.

The Mets, despite two rain delays on Saturday, then shutout the Nationals 2-0, lowering their major-league-leading ERA to 2.36, San Diego second at 2.77. Francisco Alvarez, in just his second game back from his preseason injury, hitting a two-run homer to give the Metsies all the offense they needed.

Sunday, the Mets scored five in the top of the first, and were cruising, 7-1, after six strong behind Tylor Megill, but then the roof caved in.  The Nats came back to cut it to 7-6, Mets had second and third, no outs in the top of the ninth, failed to score, and it was up to Ryne Stanek to save it, Edwin Diaz not available.

And the Mets (19-9) f’n blew it, Washington (13-15) scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to win it, 8-7.

Like Friday, a horrible loss.  But in every season, you have one of these (Friday’s loss different from this one). Do you come back from it, or not.  Mets fans learn, beginning Monday afternoon, back in D.C., whether they have what it takes to put such games behind them.  The vaunted bullpen is suddenly faltering badly.

--I noted the other day how Yankees closer Devin Williams has been miserable thus far and how he was not handling the pressure well in terms of dealing with the New York media.  I said, ‘just wait until he gets back to Yankee Stadium and blows a save.’

And that happened Friday night against Toronto.  Williams came into the top of the ninth with a 2-1 lead, and promptly gave up a leadoff single to George Springer, hit Andres Gimenez, and with runners on first and second, Williams surrendered a massive two-run double over Trent Grisham’s head in center off the bat of Alejandro Kirk. 

Williams hadn’t gotten a out, he was removed, Mark Leiter gave up a run-scoring single, the run charged to Williams, Yanks lose 4-2, and Williams now has an ERA of 11.25...10 appearances, 8 innings, 10 earned runs.

Needless to say, the heckling as he came off the field from the Yankee Stadium crowd was rather vicious.  Manager Aaron Boone was noncommittal after, as to whether Williams would remain the closer.

Sunday morning, Boone then said Williams needed to go to the box and get his mind right, a la Cool Hand Luke, but there were no dramatics today in the first game of a doubleheader (due to Saturday’s contest being rained out...an inexcusably awful weather decision by team brass...there was little rain, as it turned out), the Yanks winning Game 1, 11-2, Max Fried moving to 5-0, 1.43, with six strong.

--Paul Skenes had no problem dealing with the sellout crowd in Los Angeles against the Dodgers Friday night, Skenes throwing 6 1/3 of shutout ball, no walks, 9 strikeouts, as the Pirates (11-16) beat the struggling Dodgers (16-10) 3-0.  Shohei Ohtani is batting only .260 with 8 RBIs; Mookie Betts at .241.  This is a Dodgers team that got off to an 8-0 start!

Well, the Dodgers rebounded Saturday, 8-4, Ohtani 3-for-5, two doubles, though Betts was 0-for-4, down to .231.

--Wake Forest’s Nick Kurtz, the No. 4 overall selection in last year’s MLB Draft, was promoted to the big leagues, making his Athletics debut on Wednesday and singling in a run with his first at-bat.  Through Friday, he was 2-for-9, two RBIs.  Demon Deacon fans are fired up to have someone who should have a long career to cheer for.  [Ditto Gavin Sheets, who is getting a real chance to play with the Padres.]

And, heck, the A’s are 13-13 after a 6-5 win against the White Sox, who are having another miserable season, 6-20.

Saturday, Chicago then prevailed 10-4, Kurtz 1-for-4 with his third ribby.

--Worse than the White Sox are the 4-21 Rockies, who fell at home Friday to the Reds (13-13) 8-7.

And make that 4-22, Colorado losing Saturday, 6-4, Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene improving to 3-2, 2.70.

The 2024 White Sox were also 4-22 after their first 26 games on their way to their historically awful 41-121.

--And Saturday night in Phoenix, Eugenio Suarez became the 19th player in MLB history to hit four home runs, but only the second to do it in a loss as the Diamondbacks fell to the Braves, 8-7 in 10 innings.

Bob Horner was the only other player to hit four home runs in a loss while with the Braves, July 6, 1986, in an 11-8 loss to the Expos.

Suarez was the first player to hit four homers in a game since another D’back, J.D. Martinez, 2017.

Suarez also leads the majors now in homers with 10 through Saturday’s play.

NBA Playoffs

--The Knicks made their fans proud Thursday night in Detroit, Game 3, after a miserable loss Monday night at the Garden evened the series at 1-1, Karl-Anthony Towns totally disappearing in the second half.

But KAT and Jalen Brunson came up big in a thrilling 118-116 win, Towns with 31, Brunson 30.

The ending was bizarre, however, and almost catastrophic for New York.  Brunson purposely missed his second free throw with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock, and Detroit rebounded and the game should have been over...Pistons no time to get a full court shot off.

But because the buzzer sounded prematurely, Detroit was given the ball in front of their bench, 0.5 remaining, and actually could have gotten off a half-court shot to win the game, but they failed to execute the inbounds pass.

Detroit was upset with 3.5 seconds left, claiming Brunson had an over-and-back violation on a Knicks inbound play, but the officials made the right call on that one.

Game 4, Knicks up 2-1, was early Sunday afternoon.  Which Karl-Anthony Towns would show up? 

Well, KAT was super clutch down the stretch, 5 of 6 from 3 for the game, including two absurd 3s the final two minutes, 27 points in all, Jalen Brunson with an equally clutch, almost Willis Reed-like performance after reinjuring his ankle, and/or knee, but coming back, 32 points.  Knicks win 94-93, in another tension convention, 3-1 lead going back to New York for Game 5, Tuesday.

There is a lot I could write on this game, but for the Knicks fans who were watching, New York was up 48-32 with two minutes to go in the first half, when Brunson missed a layup and I immediately marked the moment down on a post-it, and sure enough, what should have been 50-32, gave the Pistons momentum to cut it to 50-43 at the half, an 11-2 run to close it out.

But in the end, KAT and Brunson, just like in Game 3, were the heroes.  Towns is surpassing expectations.  I just wish Game 5 was Wednesday, instead of Tuesday, because Brunson needs to rest his weary body.

--Golden State star Jimmy Butler took a hard fall late in the first quarter of Game 2 against the Rockets Wednesday night in Houston, the Warriors falling 109-94 as the Rockets evened the series at 1-1.

Butler was diagnosed with a bruised pelvis, as the series switched to the Chase Center in San Francisco.

And he wasn’t available Saturday, but the Warriors didn’t need him, 104-93 to take a 2-1 lead, as Steph Curry had 36, and Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II had 17 and 16, respectively, off the bench.

--The Nuggets tied their series with the Clippers at 2-2, Saturday, 101-99, on a dramatic slam dunk by Aaron Gordon at the buzzer.

Nikola Jokic (36 points, 21 rebounds, 8 assists), attempted a 3-pointer, it was an airball, but there was Gordon to clean it up.

The NBA said it was the first buzzer-beater slam dunk in a playoff game since play-by-play accounts began in 1997-98.

--The Thunder completed their 4-0 sweep of the Grizzlies, Saturday, 117-115, while the Cavaliers took a 3-0 lead over the Heat, 124-87.

--The Lakers fell to the Timberwolves in Minnesota Friday night, 116-104, as Luka Doncic, suffering from a stomach bug, had a subpar effort.  LeBron had 38 but it wasn’t enough.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

--Sorry, I really don’t care about the playoffs with my Rangers not in them, but I said I’d root for Toronto and Montreal.

Ottawa staved off elimination, defeating Toronto Saturday, 4-3, the series 3-1.

The Canadiens, trailing 2-1 in their series with the Capitals, play Game 4 in Montreal tonight.

Golf Balls

This week’s PGA Tour event is the annual team championship, the Zurich Classic outside of New Orleans.  Rory McIlroy made his return to action after the Masters triumph with his buddy, and partner, Shane Lowry, the two having won it last year, but we are in a pissant rain delay and this one won’t finish for a while, so I’m moving on...details in my Add-on.

[I realize my use of ‘pissant’ isn’t according to Webster’s, but it fits.]

Premier League

--With Liverpool on the verge of the title, they took on Tottenham at home Sunday, and they blasted my Spurs, 5-1, to clinch their first crown since 2019-20.  A helluva job by first-year manager Arne Slot, after succeeding a legend, Jurgen Klopp.

In other games of note over the weekend, Chelsea beat Everton 1-0, and Newcastle whipped Ipswich 3-0.

So we still have a battle for the final Champions League slot, the PL now getting five bids, rather than the traditional four.

Table...Played (33/34 of 38) – Points

1. Liverpool...34 – 82*
2. Arsenal...34 – 67
3. Newcastle...34 – 62
4. Man City...34 – 61
5. Chelsea...34 – 60
6. Nottingham...33 – 60
7. Aston Villa...34 - 57

--There was a lack of Premier League action because they had the FA Cup semifinals and it was an all-PL affair...Crystal Palace over Aston Villa 3-0, and Manchester City defeated Nottingham 2-0.

--Meanwhile, Wrexham sealed a historic promotion to the Championship League, the rung below the PL, with a 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic in front of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McIlhenney on Saturday.

Wrexham’s promotion sees the club return to English football’s second tier for the first time since they were relegated from the division at the end of the 1981-82 season.

No team in English football history, dating back to 1888, had ever achieved three consecutive promotions in the top five divisions.

Next stop, Premier League, said Reynolds.

Stuff

--The Kentucky Derby is next Saturday, and Bob Baffert is back after being banned in 2021, when Medina Spirit failed the drug test that was heard around the racing world.

Baffert has two horses, Rodriguez and Citizen Bull, but neither will be post-time favorite, Rodriguze currently 10-1, Citizen Bull 20-1.

Journalism is currently the 3-1 favorite, with Sandman and Sovereignty following at 8-1.

--Longtime ESPN announcer Mike Patrick died. He was 80.

Joined in the booth for many years by analysts Joe Theismann and Paul Maguire, Patrick called games for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Football” from 1987 to 2005. 

Very easy to listen to...a real pro.

--Congratulations to Wake Forest classmate and former NFL lineman, Syd Kitson, who on Friday night received a high honor from our alma mater, the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Syd played his high school ball (including basketball and baseball) at next-door New Providence High School, and along with his high school quarterback, Paul Joyce, we became good friends at Wake.

Syd has made his name with his spectacular Babcock Ranch development in Florida, gaining plaudits even on “60 Minutes” when Babcock Ranch suffered virtually no damage in one of the hurricanes that ripped through the Fort Myers area.  [Look it up...babcockranch.com]

Syd is a great guy...well-deserved.  We’re proud of him. 

Top 3 songs for the week 4/30/83:  #1 “Beat It” (Michael Jackson) #2 “Come On Eileen” (Dexys Midnight Runners)  #3 “Jeopardy” (Greg Kihn Band)...and...#4 “Mr. Roboto” (Styx)  #5 “Der Kommissar” (After the Fire)  #6 “Let’s Dance” (David Bowie) #7 “Billie Jean” (Michael Jackson)  #8 “She Blinded Me With Science” (Thomas Dolby) #9 “Overkill” (Men at Work)  #10 “Little Red Corvette” (Prince...B week...)

Horse Racing Quiz Answer: The 13 Triple Crown winners....

Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018).

Brief Add-on up top by noon, Tuesday.

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